Traction-engine



(No Model.) E. HOXSIE.

Traction Engine.

No. 237,978; Patented Feb. 22, I881.

N. PETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAFHER. WASHINGTON, u c,

UNIT D STATES PATENT (Manchu EZRA HOXSIE, OF BLI'SSFIELD, MICHIGAN.

TRACTION-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N0. 237,978, dated February22, 1881.

' Application filed December :29, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

, Be it known that I, EZRA Hoxsrn, of Blissfield, in the county ofLenawee and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Traction-Engines and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to traction-engines; and it consists in certainimprovements in the construction of the same, which will be hereinafterfully described with reference to the drawings hereto annexed, in whichFigure 1 is a vertical sectional view; and Fig. 2 is a section on theline w m, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding partsin bothfigures.

My invention has for its object to apply the traction power to the frontwheels of the engine, and to mount the boiler upon the latter in such amanner that they may adapt themselves to and pass over any unevenness inthe ground or road without disturbing the position of the boiler, andwithout shaking and injuring or affecting the run of thegear.

To this end it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts,which I shall now proceed more fully to describe.

I A in the drawings represents the front axle, upon which thedrive-wheels B B are firmly keyed or attached by pawl-and-ratehet joint,so as to revolve with the axle.

O is a frame or yoke provided with boxes or collars D, by which it ismounted upon the axle, which is journaled in the collars D, which latterare placed closely adjoining the wheels. At its top the yoke C isprovided with a vertical collar, E, journaled upon a pintle, F, having ahorizontal collar, G, by which it is adjusted centrally upon the axle.

The boiler H is provided, near its front end, with a downward-projectingstud, 1, terminating in a ball, J, which is mounted in a suitablesocket, K, in the upper end of collar E, thus forming a universal joint,which not only permits the axle to turn freely, but also to tilt, asshown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, when any obstruction or unevenness in theroad is encountered, thus permitting such to be passed withoutdisturbing the position of the boiler.

his the main drive-shaft, which is arranged longitudinally under theboiler, its front end being journaled in a hanger, M, secured under thelatter. At its front end the shaft L carries a pinion, N, engaging abevel-wheel, O,journaled upon the pintle F below collar E. Secured to orcast upon the under side of bevel-wheel O is a miter-wheel, P, engaginga corresponding gear-wheel, Q, keyed or otherwise secured upon the axle.

The operation of my invention will be readily understood from theforegoing description, taken in connection with the drawings heretoannexed. Through the shaft L and gear N O P Q motion is transmitted fromthe engine to the front axle, and by that to the tractionwheels, bywhich the machine is driven.

By my improved method of mounting the boiler and the gear the machinemay be driven over rough and uneven roads without injury.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim i and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States-- 1. In atraction-engine,thecombination, with the axle A, having traction-wheels B B, andmechanism for conveying power from the engine to said axle, of the yoke0, connected at its ends to said axle, and provided with a collar,

E, having a socket, K, pintle F, having collar Gr, surrounding saidaxle, and the boiler H, having a downward-projecting stud, I,terminating in a ball, J, the several parts arranged relatively to eachother, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination of the axle A, having traction-wheels B B andmiter-Wheel Q, yoke 0, having collars D D E, the latter provided with asocket,,K, pintle F, having collar Gr, boiler H, having ball J, andhanger M, shaft L, and the gear N O P, all arranged and operatingsubstantially as and for the purpose herein shown and specified.

In testimony that 1 claim the foregoing as my own I have heretoafflxed'my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EZRA HOXSIE.

Witnesses:

H. W. TRAcY, O. F. SHELDON.

